24 Hours in Eastern Idaho

On the tail end of an epic roadtrip through the beautiful state of Idaho, we packed in as much adventure as we could in the span of 24 hours traveling through a section of Eastern Idaho. As with any traveling adventure, sometimes you get less time then you would have hoped in an area, so we grinded out a plan to get as much fun in, forgoing sleep. We will rest when we get home!

But first......food!

There was talk of BBQ food so good, your skin may go raw from excessive saucy finger licking. Of lifelong friendships thwarted over fighting for the last bits on a plate. Of necessary naps to recover from food comas. Of service so friendly, you may invite staff home for Thanksgiving. And it's all true. We pulled in with high expectations and left with painfully full stomachs and giant smiles. 

I'm talking about Big Hole BBQ in Victor, Idaho. Victor is home to world-class golf courses, endless mountain trails and world-famous fly fishing in and around the area. Excellent groomed ski trails and snow machine trails access offer unparalleled winter recreation for residents and visitors alike. But we were here for the food!

Big Hole BBQ has a gravel laden outdoor patio with a huge wall art mural to enjoy while you're soaking up on vitamin D while grubbing down on delicious food, sharing laughs and making plans.

Even though a nap was in order, we had places to be and waterfalls to see!

We headed straight to Upper and Lower Mesa Falls along the Henrys Fork River, deep in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. We started off winding our way around wooden walkways and climbing up and down staircases that bring you to multiple overlooks of the majestic Upper Falls. 

Depending on the weather and position of the sun, you will be rewarded with killer rainbows that form over the falls. We lucked out with a picture perfect sunny early afternoon and photo ops at every corner. There are rangers roaming around that are more than happy to share their knowledge of the area about differing conditions throughout the year and wildlife. 

Along the walkways are benches perfect for a rest with spectacular views. 

Our second waterfall stop of the day was at Lower Mesa Falls, a short hike from the upper falls.

The trail is quite steep and traverses across a scree fall that requires some scrambling and uneven footing to reach the small trailhead perched up against the spill area of the falls. 

The amount of lush foliage is unreal. Looking across the canyon, it was as if we were looking at a piece of a tropical island in the middle of Idaho. 

But we are only halfway done with our day. 

Just a short drive away, we stopped in Island Park and rolled straight into High Mountain Adventures to get geared up for some rip-roaring UTV riding on the area's trails! Life is about maintaining balance, and since we had our zen and serenity fill for the day, it was time to get some gnar action packed away!

We accelerated down trails, banked high berm corners, crossed bridges over crystal-clear waters, and snaked our way through almost-forested tracks while strapped down in a 4-seater UTV. With a backdrop like this area offers, each corner blew us away and kept us excited for more!

We recommend getting an early start to this adventure as there are so many trails and areas to explore that a half day felt rushed.

After spending a few hours bouncing around at high speeds, it was time to head to our home for the night: Yurt Camping in Harriman State Park. 

We reserved one of the yurts tucked just inside the entrance to the park that offers premier access to trails. We spent a chunk of time trying out "skills" at chopping wood to feed the stove for the night.  

As the sun set, we headed down to the lake to spot wildlife and watch the sun disappear for the night.

In celebration of an epic day, we wrapped our day by playing cards around the table, warmed by the wood burning stove in our cozy yurt. The only asset in life that doubles when shared is happiness. Surrounded by good friends, the opportunities that we make enrich our lives and shape our experiences. Idaho sets the stage in perfect harmony and in unexpected ways.